Will My Child Inherit My Vision Problems or Eye Disease?

Question: Will My Child Inherit My Vision Problems or Eye Disease?

Answer: Some eye conditions are handed down from parents to their children. Nearsightedness and farsightedness have a strong genetic component, especially if both parents have the condition. Color blindness and retinitis pigmentosa are also sometimes inherited. Retinitis pigmentosa is is the name given to a group of inherited eye diseases that affect the retina.

Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration also seem to be influenced by genetics, but steps can be taken to help prevent or delay these eye diseases.